Registering and making an appointment for a VOF

Start or continue your registration of a VOF with people and organisations. Then make an appointment to finalise your registration.

What is a VOF?

Do you want to start a company with a business partner? Then you can choose to set up a VOF (general partnership). Note: do you, or one of the partners you start the VOF with, receive any benefits? If so, discuss the plans with the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) first. Or with your municipality, if you receive social assistance benefits.

Who are the partners in a VOF?

The partners of the VOF can be persons or organisations. For example a BV, maatschap (professional partnership), or VOF. Do you register a VOF with only persons? Or a mix of persons and organisations? You can do that at the bottom of this page. To start a VOF with only organisations, you need to fill in forms.

How do I register a VOF?

1. Log in using DigiD

You start the registration by logging in with DigiD. You then also become the contact person for KVK if there are any questions about registration. Read here what you can do if you do not have DigiD.

2. Fill in the registration form

Fill in all the fields.

  • Before you start, make sure you have discussed important matters with your partners. For example, the start date, company name, and business activities.
  • You need the citizen service number (BSN) for each person you register as a partner.
  • When you register an organisation as a partner, you need their business name or KVK number.

Consult the pdf for the English terminology

The online registration process is only available in Dutch. To find out what is being asked of you, you can consult form 32 for registering a VOF. You can also opt to fill out the form, print it, and bring it to your appointment.

3. Check your information

After completing the (online) registration form, please check all the details. During your appointment at the KVK you will again go through the form together with a KVK employee. Information that has been filled in incorrectly can then be adjusted.

4. Make an appointment online

After checking the form, you can make an appointment online at a KVK office of your choice to complete your registration. You can only make, change, or cancel the appointment online.

5. Changing or canceling your prepared registration

Log in once more using DigiD. Choose lopende inschrijving (active registration) and then inschrijving bewerken (change registration) to edit your registration. Or click the bin icon to delete everything. If you have made an appointment, that will be deleted, too. 

Do I have to register UBOs?

UBOs (ultimate beneficial owners) are the persons who have the ultimate stake in an organisation. You must register your UBOs when you start a new VOF. First you and your partners need to determine  who are the UBOs for your organisation. Then fill in form 32 and bring it to your appointment.  

How do I make an appointment at KVK?

You can schedule an appointment after you have completely filled in the registration form.

  • You can make an appointment for any KVK office. You can make, change, and cancel your appointment online by logging in with DigiD.
  • Bring a valid proof of identity and the necessary forms and supporting documents. After making your appointment, you will receive an email with an overview of what you need to bring.
  • All partners who are persons must attend the appointment, each with a valid proof of identity. 
  • You pay a one-off registration fee to register a new company or organisation.
  • You can immediately order a certified KVK Business Register Extract. You can use this as proof of registration. Some banks and wholesale suppliers ask for an extract.

Log in with DigiD

FAQs about DigiD

DigiD is required to confirm your identity. In this way, we ensure that only authorised persons have access to data from an organisation.

At Help & Contact you will find all frequently asked questions about DigiD.

Apply for DigiD via www.digid.nl. You need your citizen server number (BSN) to apply.

Do you live outside the Netherlands and do not have a DigiD? Check which situation applies to you.

  • You have Dutch nationality. You can apply for a DigiD. The DigiD website tells you how to do this.
  • You do not have Dutch nationality. Follow these steps to apply for a DigiD:
    • First register with the Non-Residents Records Database (RNI).
    • After registration with the RNI, you will immediately receive a citizen service number (BSN).
    • With this BSN you can apply for a DigiD. The DigiD website tells you how to do this.

Frequently asked questions about appointments

You will find all frequently asked questions about making an appointment in Help and Contact.

You must make an appointment to visit a KVK office. You choose which KVK office yourself. This can also be an office outside your region or place of residence. Making an appointment is easy: login using DigiD. You can schedule an appointment up to 8 weeks in advance.

Did you not receive the confirmation email? Then it is probably in your spam or deleted mail folder. If not, please call our Service Centre: 088 585 15 85. Available from Monday to Friday from 08:30 to 17:00 hours.

Have you made an appointment to register an eenmanszaak (sole proprietorship), vof (general partnership) or maatschap (professional partnership)?

Then log in again with your DigiD on this page. Your appointment at KVK will be listed under 'registration details'. Here you can see when, at what time, and at which office the appointment was made. Here you can still cancel or change your appointment.

Frequently asked questions about registering a VOF

Only one of the partners in the vof can register. You can help someone else with the registration, but a partner must log in with their own DigiD.

We advise you to document the agreements you make with your partners in a partnership contract (a vof contract). In this contract, you also document the authority of each partner. Bring the vof contract to your KVK appointment, or send it to KVK by post (if you do not have to make an appointment in person). 

Register your business 1 week before or after the start of business activities. Prepare your registration online. Then make an appointment for the identification check and the completion of your registration. You will then immediately receive your KVK number. Registering is possible at any KVK office in the Netherlands.

You can also visit us earlier for the check of your pre-completed details and proof of identity. This is possible up to a maximum of 3 months before your start date. In this case, you will receive your KVK number by post in the week prior to your start date. You can schedule an appointment up to 8 weeks in advance.

You will receive a KVK number number when you register in the Business Register. If you register your company 1 week before or after starting business activities, you will receive your KVK number immediately.

Visit earlier

You may also visit us earlier to check your pre-completed details and proof of identity. This is possible up to a maximum of 3 months before your start date. Then prepare your registration online and make an appointment at one of our offices. You can schedule an appointment up to 8 weeks in advance.

We will register your company from 1 week before your specified start date. After registration, you will receive a written confirmation, your KVK number and an invoice for the registration fee by post.

Taking over a business

Are you taking over a business? Then we will send you the new KVK number on the takeover date.

Registration in the preparation phase is possible in some cases. Preparations include ordering goods, applying for permits, or renting business premises. To complete the registration, make an appointment online by logging in with DigiD. Registration is possible at any KVK office in the Netherlands.

You can only register your business if you have a Dutch visiting address. Do you live in an area bordering the Netherlands? And can you show genuine, physical business activities in the Netherlands? Only then you can register with a visiting address that is abroad. Follow these steps to register:

  • Choose a legal form and fill in the (digital) registration form
    To register as a sole proprietorship (eenmanszaak), you need a DigiD. You apply for this using your Citizen Service Number (BSN). If you do not have a BSN, follow these steps:
  • Make an appointment at a KVK office to complete your registration.
  • Bring the following with you:
    • A valid proof of identity and an original extract (or a legalised copy) from the personal records database where you live, or another original proof (or a legalised copy), such as from an official organisation or a bank, showing your private address.
      Note: this proof may not be older than 1 month. Submit this proof in a language we can read. If we cannot read it, KVK can ask you to have the documents translated into Dutch, English, German, or French. This does not need to be by a sworn translator.
    • A copy of the rental, purchase or lease contract of the (Dutch) visiting address. This must be signed by 2 parties.

You pay a one-off registration fee to register a new company or organisation.

All the FAQs about UBOs can be found under Help & Contact. 

You do not need to register separately with the Netherlands Tax Administration. After registration, we will pass this information on. You will receive a notification from the Tax Administration by post within 2 weeks of the start date of your business.

Is your question not included? More frequently asked questions can be found on our Help and contact page. It also states how you can contact us.